Is this ok to show on tv?

We produce a local show with a plastic surgeon. One of the segments is going to show clips of a nipple reconstruction. Normally we blur the nipple but in this case it would defeat the purpose. What are the standards for this to air on local cable and a broadcast channel?

That's a question for whomever airs the show. My guess is the answer is going to be you have to blur it to meet the FCC decency standards, but depending on whom airs your show, that will be your answer. Any answer we give is merely a guess. Is this not covered in the production guidelines you received from the broadcasters?

The channel and time of day matter. Broadcast vs. cable, even basic cable, makes a difference. A censor is going to consider the purpose of the show and if the context and shots surrounding the image are "clinical" or "prurient". Other shows about plastic surgery have aired on cable that mix blurred and un-blurred.